Coal Creek — Officials broke ground Monday at the intersection of CR 100 and Cap Rock Road on a five-year Regional Road Project that will fix roads that have been adversely affected by the work being done by oil companies in the coal town areas of Fremont County.

Coal Creek Mayor Connie Higgs said officials have been working on plans for the proposed project for two years, and now, thanks to a $550,000 Department of Local Affairs mineral impact grant, crews will begin work March 24.

Higgs said the mineral impact grant is funded by oil companies, and is available to communities affected by minerals.

Higgs, along with Fremont County Department of Transportation Director Tony Adamic, wrote the grant, and with the help of GIS mapping, they prioritized the roads for the project.

"We are building this up to truck-traffic standards so that it will hold up for future drilling," Higgs said.

Adamic said the project is an effort between the county, the smaller entities and the oil corporations working together for the benefit of the citizens.

"The oil companies are impacting the road, and with this energy grant, they are getting their roads fixed," he said.

The county and entities are donating equipment and labor in kind, and the DOLA funding will cover the materials and specialized equipment.

Adamic said this first phase of the project includes 7.4 miles of road reconstruction; about four miles will be asphalt and about 3.4 miles of gravel road. Roads impacted are CR 100, Coal Creek Drive, CR 85, CR 85A, CR 84, and CR 84A. The five-year project will be completed in five phases. The county will apply for a new grant each year.

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"We are going to be working on segments of road and we're going to try to keep the road open at all times," said Jimmy Zeleznikar, east road group supervisor with FCDOT and project supervisor. "There will be delays, but no road closures."

Coal Creek resident Rob Brown said said the project is a positive thing.

"I think it's exciting," he said. "Some of the roads are really pathetic, and some are not too bad."

Rockvale Mayor Delbert Lennie said the project is an opportunity to improve some of the major thoroughfares.

"What's happening is the oil rigs are coming in on these roads and they are tearing them up," he said. "The oil companies have joined us in this project by putting in some funds to improve the thoroughfare through all of out towns."

Williamsburg Mayor Gary Zak said the project affects not only area residents, but everyone who uses the roads.

"Anytime we can get a road project improved in the area, it benefits all citizens," he said. "We are grateful for the state and the Department of Local Affairs to grant this money."

Guy Goudy, chief operating officer for Austin Exploration, said as a company, giving back to the community is very important.

"We feel very fortunate to have a flagship property out here in Florence, and we will continue to be visible and support the community in every way we can," he said. "This is hopefully the first of many things that we can do for the community; we plan on being here for a long time."

Lonny Haugen, chief financial officer for Austin Exploration, said the project truly is a group effort, and Austin Exploration is proud to be part of it.

"This is a project that DOLA likes to get behind because of the group effort and because of the communities coming together," said Fremont County Commissioner Tim Payne. "DOLA likes to see that cooperation and this is a wonderful project."

The project is the first cooperative effort among the entities, but Florence Mayor Keith Ore said he hopes it's the first of "many to come."

"When we work together, we get a lot of things done," he said. "That's what it's all about."

Florence City Manager Mike Patterson said he also is pleased with the cooperation between the county, the towns and the oil companies.

"We are just really pleased with everybody for stepping up and helping, Austin Exploration in particular, and Javernick Oil," he said. "It's great to see those companies be part of the discussions all along. We look forward to more projects and more grants for the whole community."

Haugen said Austin Exploration will host a community meeting in April to give updates on drilling plans.

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